The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-25
SEA ISLAND COTTON.
The Condition of the Crop in Three
States.


! States
H F. Dutton q Co., of Gainesville, Fla,
dealers in sea island cotton, having sent
out circulars TO growers of sea island cotton
in the States of Florida, Georgia and South
Carolina inquiring about the condition of
the sea island crop, received many replies,
from which the following results were OBJ
tanned:
/. Acreage compared with last years crop,
more or less? State per cent.
A.-More, 40; same, So, less, 45--150.
=. Would you call condi ion of thn plant
as to stand, good, far o. bad,
A.-Good, 40; fair, 30; bad l1-150.
3. As regards cultivation how is the crop?
A.-Good 50; fair, 40; bad, 12-150
4 Everything considered, would you cali
the crop prospects good, fair or badg
A.--Good, IS: fair IS; bad, 14-15O.
5. How many bales old crop on hand in
your section.
A-55C bales
Remdrks.-It is rather early to tell much
about the coming Florida sea island cotton
crop The crop generally throughout the State
Is from fifteen to thirty days late, and in some
portions suffers from want of rain. Taking
the State as whole there is about the same
acreage planted as last season. In some
sections, where the best cotton has been
raised, the acreage is materially decreased
As to stand, cultivation and prospects we
consider the average fair at present. Ono
of the most discouraginG facts in regard to
the coming crop is the fact that the class Of
planters who have taken the most care of
their cotton in regard to cultivation and
seed, claim that they have had to abandon
the planting of cotton on account of prevail
ing low prices during last season and the
prospects held out to them this spring for
the coming crop. They claim they cannot
make the better grades of cotton for less
than 25c. per pound, and will not try. They
also add that in several counties where the
long staple cotton acreage has been large in
the past the low price has stimulated them
to try the cultivation of tobacco If they
make a success of this it will decrease the
acreage of the long staple cotton in the fu-
ture as long as the present prices are ruling.
Our experience in the past has been that
when cotton is as backward as this season
the chances are the caterpillar will make its
appearance early.
GEORGIA
l. Acreage compared with last years
crop, more or less? State per cent.
A.-More, 8; same, O.; less, 37-54.
2 Would you call condition of the plant,
as to stand, good, fair or bad?
A.-Good, %; fair, 81; bad, 11--54
3. AS regards cultivation, how is the crop
Co WIN oNSld5b SOOu,
fair or bad?
A.-Good, "a; fair, 20; bad, 1874.
4. Everything considered would you call
the crop prospects good, fair or bad!
A.-Good, 21; fair, %; bad, LIST.
s. How many bales old crop on hand in
your section?
A.-Savannah, 1,024; interior of State. 50:
total 1888.
Remarks.-The reports from Georgia go
to show that there is quite a falling off in
| the acreage. The reasons given are the ex-
| IRENE low prices, and it pays them better to
plant upland cotton. As regard stand, cult
walton, etc, we should call it good the
crops in this State fully three weeks late,
and thoughts of caterpillar make people blue
SOUTH CAROLINA.
| l. Acreage compared with last years
crop, more or less, state per cent.
| A-More, s; same, IS; less, 30-64.
| 2. Would you call the condition of the
plant, as to stand, good, fair or bad!
A.-Good, AZ; tair, OH
B. AS regards cultivation, how is the
crop compared with average years!
A.--Good, 50; fair 34-64.
A. Everything considered, would you call
the crop prospects good, fair or bad!
A.-Good, 3S; fair, 26-64.
s. How many bales old crop on hand in
your section!
A.-Charleston, 500; interior of State, 151
| TOTAL, Hol.
| Remarks. careful review of the reports
from the sea island cotton district of South
Carolina indicate a decrease in the acreage
planted of about 10 per cent, and that the
crops have been delayed by cold and dry
weather, especially in the Beaufort district
OF late, however, the weather has been more
favorable, and the plant is now doing COM
paratively well.
Here, as in Florida, planters are discour-
| aged lf-hpo Ttp1 ON account of tho low
prices, and claim that the cotton cannot be
produced at the prices obtained last year
without loss to the planters, and many are
looking about for a substitute crop that will
pay something more than actual cost of pro-
duction.